Need Rest and a Change of Scenery?

 

Have you ever needed rest and a change of scenery?

The pandemic has limited social involvement and entertainment. One of my favorite hashtags of the past year is #stuckathome. Can you relate?

The same routine, day after day, can drain my creativity, leaving me uninspired to move forward.

Recently I needed rest from the mundane “everyday-ness” of life.

My husband planned a long weekend away for us, something we never could do when we served in church ministry. For my birthday weekend, we went to Branson, Missouri to see spring in the Ozarks and connect with family. We laughed and played mini golf. I got a hole in one, as did my daughter and five-year- old granddaughter!

The brief escape helped restore my energy on many levels. I felt refreshed in my spirit from connecting with family, nature, and praising God for His goodness.

Our time away reinforced to me the value of rest.

Rest is an important form of self care. We get busy in our routines that we don’t unwind our souls. In an online conference, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith taught about seven types of rest from her book, Sacred Rest.

• We need mental rest to focus on God and not the overwhelming “to do” list.
• Spiritual rest makes time for intimacy in God’s presence. We draw nearer to God through prayer and time in the Word. A heart of gratitude develops through seeing God’s blessings around you.
• Creative rest allows space for God to re-awaken our creativity through things that please the senses.
• Sensory rest calms down the overload of lights and sound, taking control of the device screens.
• Physical rest restores the body.
• Social rest occurs when you make time to be with life giving people.
• Emotional rest happens when you are comfortable with your inner circle of relationships.

If we make the time, God is faithful to restore and renew us.

We gain rest for our souls when we bring our weariness to God.

In Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) we read,

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Waiting on the Lord denotes hope and expectancy, trusting the Lord to working. We can exchange our weariness for his strength.

A change of scenery helps resolve the feeling of #stuckathome.

If you’re unable to go away, try visiting a different park for a walk.

The change of scenery might trigger allergies, but will improve your perspective.